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LONDON -- The International Olympic Committee praised London 2012 organizers Thursday for their preparations, including the contentious new logo.
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Denis Oswald, the head of the IOC's coordination commission, said he was pleased with all levels of planning and hailed the long-term legacy aspects as a "model" for future host cities.
"Two years after London got the games, we are impressed by the level of detail in the preparation," Oswald said. "London is on track and on time."
Oswald, who has been involved at various levels in 18 Olympics, said London was further ahead in planning five years out from the games than any other recent host city.
Oswald's 15-member inspection team reviewed every aspect of London's preparations, including venue construction, sport, staffing, media and technology. It was the group's first visit since April 2006.
Oswald said London's ambitious legacy plans were as promised when it won the bid in July 2005.
"This legacy is very important," he said. "We really consider that London will be a model for a future host city of the Olympic Games as far as legacy is concerned."
A run-down 500-acre East End site is to be transformed into the Olympic Park, which as well as being the hub of the games, will also become one of the largest urban parks in Europe.
After 2012, four major sports venues will remain -- the main stadium, which will be reduced in seating capacity from 80,000 to 25,000; an aquatics center, velodrome and an indoor multi-sport center. The Olympic village will be turned into housing.
"In the discussions we had with the mayor, he confirmed that without the games, a lot of projects which are now in place would not have been possible," Oswald said.
The new London 2012 logo -- a jigsaw-style design featuring four block-style jagged pieces combining to form the numbers 2012 in a variety of pink, blue, green and orange colors -- was also praised by Oswald.
"I love it," he said. "It's very dramatic, very creative, very young, very dynamic and includes a lot of flexibility. I was really enthusiastic and it is not because I've read that some people have criticized this logo that I will change my mind. It's just a fantastic logo."
Oswald said he was not concerned with the upcoming political changes in Britain, with Tony Blair stepping down as prime minister on June 27 and Labour Party colleague Gordon Brown taking over.
"We are used to these changes," Oswald said. "We have commitments from both sides."
London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe said he was "very grateful" for Oswald's upbeat assessment.
